A JUDGE launched an attack on the government’s immigration system as he jailed a drug minder who was living illegally in Liverpool.

Judge Ian Trigger said “hundreds and hundreds of thousands” of illegal immigrants were abusing the “completely lax immigration policy” operated in the UK.

He claimed it was creating “an enormous strain on resources which are already badly stretched”.

He made the scathing comments as he jailed Jamaican Lucien McClearley, 31, for a total of two years for a string of offences.

Kenneth Grant, prosecuting, said McClearley was arrested after police noticed a hired Vauxhall Vectra he was driving smelled of cannabis as they stopped him in city centre Parr Street on February 15.

They discovered bags of cannabis hidden in a glasses box and when he was searched at the station, they also discovered a fraudulent driving licence.

A further search of the house where McClearley was staying in Everton Road, Everton, revealed more than £7,200 worth of cannabis, a gram of cocaine and a fake passport.

Judge Trigger said: “Your case illustrates all too clearly that completely lax immigration policy which exists and has existed over recent years in this country.

“People like you come to these shores from foreign countries to avail themselves of the generous welfare benefits which exist here.”

He added: “In the past 10 years, the national debt of this country has risen to extraordinary heights, largely because central government has wasted billions and billions of pounds.

“Much of that has been wasted on welfare payments. For every £1 the decent citizen pays in taxes in this country, nearly 10% goes on servicing that national debt.

“That is twice the amount it was in 1997 when this government came to power.”

McClearley, of Stamford Street, Edge Hill, arrived in the UK in November 2001 legally on a visitor’s visa, but was arrested in October 2002 after overstaying his stay.

He then appealed for asylum and was released while his application was pending, allowing him to “disappear from the radar”.

The application was rejected on March 2004, but he was only arrested in February 2009 after alert police noticed him.

Neil Cobley, defending, said McClearley was educated and had a good job in Jamaica, but stayed after starting a relation-ship.

He said McClearley, who admitted taking a vehicle without consent, possessing cannabis and cocaine and possessing a class B drug with intent and two counts possessing false identity documents, simply wanted “employment”.